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Srinagar, Oct 19 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir government will soon modify the Tourism Trade Act, 1978 to make it broad-based, more relevant and tourist friendly.

This was informed by Tourism Minister Mohammad Dilawar Mir while interacting with members of the Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners Federation at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) here.

He said some new initiatives were being taken to promote winter tourism and adventure tourism in the state.

The Minister assured the members of the hotel industry that their problems would be taken up with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Tourism Minister and Tourism Ministers of other states.

Speaking on the occasion, Tourism Secretary Naeem Akhtar said environment and ecology consciousness was being made as a basic parameter for registration of a tourism unit.

A high-level committee has been formed by the state government to work out a viable and realistic revival package for the tourism sector, he added.

Mr Akhtar said Gulmarg was being developed as a major winter sports destination. Similarly, places of monumental and heritage importance were being preserved to market these as rare tourist attractions, he added.

The Tourism Secretary said documentation and preservation of Pahalgam and Kargil was being undertaken to showcase these as ancient bazaars (markets) of this part of the world.

He said Gujjar 'Kothas' (hutment) of Yousmarg and Sonamarg and log houses of Gurez and Lolab areas were also being brought under the ambit of tourism revial package.

The members of the association demanded certain relaxations to make Jammu and Kashmir a tax free tourist state.

UNI AG VA ND1322